Don't worry, you'll get plenty of photo ops and visit places like Surfers Paradise for fun in the sun with your new buddies, your tour mates! En-route you'll learn to surf with the pro’s in Coffs Harbour & spend the night in Byron Bay before crossing the Queensland border. Enjoy a good 'ol aussie 'knees-up' at a farmstay and get friendly with koalas and kangaroos, finished up with island time in the Whitsunday Islands.

Top Offers & Trip Notes

Itinerary + Inclusions & ME Time Optionals

ME Time Optionals

ME Time optionals will take your trip to a whole new level with unforgettable experiences unique to the places you
visit. See more, do more, live more & go home completely regret-free. Costs for these aren’t included in your
tour cost & are payable to your Trip Manager in local currency.

Inclusions

On our trips we don't just take you to the destinations, we make sure you get under the skin of every place you visit. From amazing food & accommodation, to exclusive access to incredible experiences, with Contiki you'll get unbeatable value & a completely unique travel experience.

1
Arrive Sydney

Check into your hotel from 2pm & spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Sydney

Hotel

2
Sydney

Meet up with your travel buddies & Contiki team & get ready for your Down Under adventure! This morning we’re heading out of the city & into the country for our included Blue Mountain’s day trip. The dramatic landscape of gorges (some up to 760m) are massive & will impress with the endless views into the distance. We’ll take a casual hike along the Jamison Ridge to the top of Wentworth Falls, passing a number of lookouts along the way. Next we’ll stop at Leura, a charming country village before visiting the iconic ‘Three Sisters’ – the famous rock formations. With amazing views & photos to keep your memories fresh when you get home, we’ll head back to Sydney. Later this evening have a truly Aussie experience when you get to cook your own delicious BBQ dinner of legendary Australian steak. Watching the sunset with a drink in hand & a great meal is the perfect way to end the day & the ideal start your trip.

Hotel
Breakfast,Dinner

Day trip out to the stunning Blue Mountains

See the famous Three Sisters rock formation

Hike along the ridge overlooking Jamison Valley

Cook your own BBQ dinner

3
Sydney

Sydney rocks & with Contiki you’ll see the best of the city. First up, get in the know on Sydney as your Trip Manager points out all the hottest spots & icons of this harbourside haven. From the babes on the beaches of Manly, the buzzy Kings Cross & its colourful characters to Chinatown & Darling Harbour, the sights & sounds are as varied as its residents & we’re here to uncover it all. We’ll also take you to Mrs Macquarie's Chair & The Rocks, for undoubtedly the city’s best views of the Opera House & Harbour Bridge in one go (so it’s perfect for some of those legendary Sydney snaps). You could even try scaling the heights of the Harbour Bridge on an optional BridgeClimb or take a tour around the stunning Opera House! Later, it’s a totally Sydney experience with an included ride to the famous Manly Beach. We’ll drop you right at the beach. Bliss! On arrival, grab some lunch then throw down your towel, pop in your iPod & take time to paddle in the cool water, work on your tan if the weather is right, or just people watch as you soak up the vibes & atmosphere. There are loads of shops & restaurants here too, for those that are keen to check out the local buzz. Later, take the Sydney scenic route back - you’ll get a panoramic view of the city as your backdrop whilst you cruise on the famous & iconic ferry.

Chill out on the coach today and chat with your travel buddies as we head northbound over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We stop by seaside Port Macquarie for lunch before heading to Coffs Harbour, home to surf beaches, fishing and banana plantations.

This is a chance for a real Aussie overnight as we arrive at our Special Stay experience at our Aussie Surf Camp. Maybe get to know your Contiki team & travel buddies over a few drinks. Our cabins are right on the beach so soak up the surf vibes and relax by the open fire under the stars.

Surf Village
Breakfast,Dinner

Stop in the seaside resort town of Port Macquarie

See the famous 'Big Banana' & banana plantations

5
Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay

This morning wake up to one of our Aussie highlights, a surf lesson! An awesome Aussie experience – hit the waves & learn to surf with some professional instructors as you have a go at surfing! Join some of the coolest people on the planet as you get involved with Australia’s beach culture. It’s a fun way to learn how to surf as our professional local instructors show you just how it’s done. The perfect Aussie experience & will top off your Coffs Harbour stay!

Later, it’s time to hit the road for our next overnight stop, gorgeous Byron Bay – one of Australia’s gems & a great place to hang out! With a laid-back lifestyle, cute little shops, organic food, alternative therapies and around 30km of pretty beaches, it’s a must see. Byron Bay is also known for its incredible marine life. Head out to Cape Byron, Australia’s most easterly point and see dolphins and humpback whales if you’re lucky, then grab some lunch back in town and maybe take a swim at the beach & soak up the hippy vibes & easy going atmosphere.

There are loads of other things on offer here too, like a sea kayaking adventure where you catch up with a family of dolphins at Wategos beach, their curiosity often brings them right up next your kayak, and snorkeling at Middle reef home to turtles, rays, corals, eels, starfish and sharks.

Hostel
Breakfast

Learn to surf the waves or ride a kayak at our beachside surf camp

Visit Australia's most eastern point & Cape Byron lighthouse

Get into Byron's organic lifestyle & cool nightlife

Byron Bay Kayaking 3hrs

A$65

6
Byron Bay to Surfers Paradise

This morning we cross over into Queensland and visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary where you’ll get up close to Australia’s amazing native animals. Cuddle a koala, feed the kangaroos and see wombats, emus, crocodiles, dingoes, Tasmanian devils and colourful birds. You can feel good about doing this too, as our visit to this not-for-profit organisation goes towards the sanctuary’s animal hospital which helps over 4,000 injured animals every year.

Tonight we pull into legendary Surfers Paradise, the Gold Coast’s party hot spot and home to some of the best surfing beaches in the world.

Grab some of your new friends and join the party atmosphere of Surfers tonight. There is an optional Cabaret dinner followed by included VIP entry into one of Surfers Paradise’s best clubs. With heaps of restaurants and a buzzing nightlife, there’s something for everybody.

With a free day, hang out among the bronzed bodies, bikini babes and surfer dudes on the golden sands. Check out what Surfers is most famous for, the three kilometers of gorgeous natural beaches. Kick back and spot some locals showing off their talents in the waves.

If you want to get amongst the action there’s so much happening in Surfers Paradise you are spoilt for choice. You could head up into the Hinterland Mountains on a 4WD trip, visit South Stradbroke Island on a kayaking safari or spend all day at Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin's Zoo, Australia Zoo.

Our hotel is only a short walk from both the beach and downtown Surfers Paradise so you could also hit the shops – Surfers has some great places to shop and a huge outlet mall for bargains, so get some tips from your Trip Manager on where’s best to head.

Resort
Breakfast

Relax on some of Australia's most famous beaches on the Gold Coast

Tandem Skydiving

from A$345

Southern Cross 4WD night tour

AU$ 105

8
Surfers Paradise to Noosa

As we make our way up the coast, we make a stop in Brisbane to see what this city is all about. You’ll get a feel for the capital of Queensland’s laid-back atmosphere when we have a look around town.

Noosa is up next. It’s a trendy beach resort town. You could take a stroll through the shops or sunbathe and swim at the beach before we check into our resort. Tonight, go local and enjoy a taste of Aussie life as we head to the surf club for our included dinner overlooking the beach. Later, if you want to take it up a level, head out into the town & explore Noosa by night.

Resort
Breakfast,Dinner

See the Brisbane River, South Bank, Royal Botanical Gardens & visit Queen Street Mall on a city tour

See the Glass House Mountains

Visit the picturesque seaside town & beach of Noosa

Dine beachside at Noosa Surf Club & meet a lifesaver

9
Noosa to Fraser Island

This morning we make our way north to Fraser Island, a slice of paradise. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed site is the largest sand island in the world and is 800,000 years old. Packed with around 40 freshwater lakes, lush rainforests and diverse wildlife, Fraser Island lives up to its amazing reputation.

If you want to explore as much of the island as possible, jump on our included full-day 4WD tour. Meet your Local Guide in the morning and be shown some of the island’s best spots and hidden treasures, taking you through the island’s sand dunes, rainforests & freshwater lakes. Our Local Guide will show you some of the island’s best spots and hidden treasures, such as Lake McKenzie – make sure you keep your camera handy – this is one of Australia’s most beautiful regions.

Resort
Lunch,Breakfast

Take a locally guided 4WD trip across Fraser Island & indulge in a gourmet BBQ lunch

Stay on the world's largest sand island, a UNESCO World Heritage site

Drive along Australia's only sand highway

Stay in an eco-village & enjoy the resort facilities

10
Fraser Island to Farmstay

Back on the mainland this morning, we continue inland to an authentic country homestead, right in the heart of Queensland’s cattle country.

During our time at Langmorn, a working cattle station, you’ll experience a taste of real Aussie country life. The owners will show you around the enormous property in a behind-the-scenes look at daily life on the farm. Taste local hospitality tonight as your welcoming hosts pile your table high with a hearty roast beef and vegetables (like you've never tasted before) followed by an indulgent homemade decadent desert.

Later, have a go at whip cracking an authentic leather stock whip under night lights before heading back inside for traditional Aussie bush dancing. Have some fun and a giggle with some evening karaoke. See if you can spot the 'Southern Cross' amongst a chandelier of stars, a constellation only visible in the southern hemisphere & featured on the Australian flag.

Country Homestead
Breakfast,Dinner

Spot whales on a boat trip across Hervey Bay (seasonal)

Stop in Childers, a small country town, known for its heritage & farming history

Check out the farm & animals on a hay wagon ride, then try whip cracking!

Meet the cattle station owners

Aussie Outback experience: Langmorn Station Special Stopover

11-12
Farmstay to Whitsundays Sailing

Today we drive to Airlie Beach, gateway to the Whitsundays Islands and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to board our sailing yacht.

Enjoy two nights sailing the stunning Whitsunday islands with your friends. Swim, snorkel, or laze your way around the 74 islands of this tropical paradise, where you will past the lush tropical islands, snorkel the many spectacular coral reefs, laze on the world's best beaches and personally meet an extravagant array of sea life. You can help the crew & learn how to grind the winches & hoist the sails, or just relax and top up your tan in the sun.

Please note: Accommodation on board the yacht is multishare only.

YachtYacht
Breakfast,Dinner,Lunch,Breakfast,Dinner

Visit the vibrant seaside town of Airlie Beach

Relax on the famous white sands of Whitehaven Beach

13
The Whitsundays

The trip ends after breakfast, so it's time to swap email addresses & say farewell to your new friends.

What's Included

All of this & more, included as standard on your trip.

Accommodation

12 nights multi-share accommodation: 6 nights in hotels & resorts, 2 nights on a yacht, 1 night in a hostel, 1 night in an eco-lodge, 1 night in a surf school village, 1 night at a cattle station lodge

Inclusions

Me Time

What's Included

All of this & more, included as standard on your trip.

Accommodation

12 nights multi-share accommodation: 6 nights in hotels & resorts, 2 nights on a yacht, 1 night in a hostel, 1 night in an eco-lodge, 1 night in a surf school village, 1 night at a cattle station lodge